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Animals have always been moved as part of the production and distribution process. However, the movement has increased noticeably over the last 50 or so years. Animals have been transported by air since the early 1930's. Since the early 1990's, Eastern Europe has exported about 140,000 live horses into the European Union annually for slaughter, mainly by road. In the UK (prior to FMD), around 700,000 lambs and sheep were exported annually for slaughter in continental abattoirs. The EU exports about half a million live cattle, mainly from Germany and Ireland, to the Middle East and North Africa. Animals are also exported from Australia to the Middle East and South East Asia.
Transporting live animals and meat products increases the risk of spreading disease. The speed of transmission of Foot and Mouth disease in 2001 and resulting costs of £9 billion can be put down, at least in part, to the unnecessary movement of animals. 
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© 2003 EP@W Publishing Co Ltd
Photos courtesy of http://www.usda.gov